Resetting apparatus



2- mm L. E. WHfiTTAK-ER RESETTING APPARATUS Mam ' 2 Sheets-Sheet Filed March 10, 1939 19431 L. E. WHKTTAKER BESETTING APPARATUS Filed March 10, 1959 2 sheets sheet 2 158% v aw/19 five 72530 7 IJDCIDDDDD a nun uu Patented Mar. 4, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RESETTING APPARATUS Application March 10, 1939, Serial No. 260,977

8 Claims. (Cl. 88-24) In various kinds of apparatus it is desirable to make predetermined adjustments quickly and accurately. For example in printing cinematographic film it is customary to position the images on the printed film in uniform relation to the sprocket holes or other openings with which the film is registered. When the images on the print-- ing film do not have this uniform relationship it is necessary to shift the images in the printing process, the degree of shift varying throughout the length of the films in accordance with the variations in non-uniformity of successive images on the printing film. This is accomplished by means of a projection printer having a register device such as disclosed in the patent to Comstock 1,208,490, granted December 12, 1916, the device comprising a plane parallel plate of glass disposed in the path of th printing light between the two films. By tipping the glass about a vertical axis the projected images are shifted horizontally and by tipping the glass about a horizontal axis the projected images are shifted vertically; and by mounting the glass in a gimbal it may be tipped in any plane containing the optical axis of the printer thereby to shift the projected images in any direction on the printed film. To facilitate the printing operation the printing film is first examined to determine the points throughout the length of the film where the aforesaid relationship changes and the directlon and extent of each change. These changes are charted and the margin of the film is notched at each point of change. Then, during the printing operation, the register glass is readjusted in accordance with the chart as each notch passes he printing station. Objects of the present invention are to effect, quickly, accurately and automatically, adjustments of the type referred to.

In one aspect the invention involves an actuator for making the predetermined adjustment,

a spring or other means yieldingly tending to produce movement of the actuator to a new position, a detent or other releasable means for holding the actuator against said movement, and a controller for variably limiting the degree of said movement when the actuator is released. The yielding means preferably comprises .two or more springs which are normally counterbalanced but which are unbalanced by movement of the cont-roller. Thus, when the detent is released, the springs are free to balance again in a new position and, in rebalancing, the springs move the actuator to the new position.

In another aspect the invention involves an optical element provided with means for supporting the element for movement in each of two planes intersecting each other along the optical axis of the element, such as vertical and horiz'ontal planes, together with means controlled by the film for moving the element in each of the planes.

Other aspects of the invention will be evident from the illustrative embodiment hereinafter described and shown in the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the left-hand end of the apparatus;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same part of the apparatus;

Fig. 3 is a section on line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a section on line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the right-hand end of the apparatus, parts being shown in section;

Fig. 6 is a vertical longitudinal section of the left-hand end of the apparatus;

Fig. 7 is a section on line 7-1 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a section on line 8-8 of Fig. 6; and

Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic view showing the electric circuit connections and the relationship of the electrical parts of the apparatus with the cinematographic film.

The particular embodiment of the invention chosen for the purpose of illustration comprises a register glass I in the form of a plane parallel disk of glass mounted in a ring 2. At diametrically opposed points the ring 2 is provided with aligned trunnions 3 which are journaled in a larger ring 4, one of the trunnions being provided with a depending arm It) for rotating the ring about the axis of the trunnions. At right-angles to the axis of the trunnions 3 the ring I is also provided with outwardly projecting coaxial trunnions 5 which are journaled in bearings 6 mounted in the frame I. The trunnions 5 are provided with axial openings to receive the ends of shafts 8 and 9 for controlling the aforesaid rings, the shafts 8 and 9 being keyed or otherwise secured against rotation relatively to the trunnions 5. Thus the support for the register glass I constitutes a gim'bal by which the glass may be tipped in any direction relatively to its optical axis X. At the front the casing I is provided with a removable cover I and at the top the casing is provided with a threaded socket T2 to receive a lens. In printing pictures light passes through. the printing fllrn, thence through the aforesaid lens, thence through the register glass 1 and thence through the opening l3 (Figs. 4 and 6) to the film to be printed within the light-tight casing l4. Inasmuch as the light projecting means, the film feeding means, etc., of projection printers are well-known these details have been omitted for the sake of clearness.

At the left-hand end of the casing I is an elongate casing l5 disposed in alignment with the axis of the shafts 8 and 9. Extending lengthwise of the casing I5 is a circular bore l6 containing one of the aforesaid actuators which comprises a rod I! having fast to its opposite ends sleeves l8 and I9 slidably fitted in the bore 16, the sleeves serving not only to guide the rod in the bore but also affording abutment shoulders for the springs hereinafter referred to. The central portion 20 of the rod l5 has a larger diameter to form shoulders which serve as abutments for the sleeves 2| and 22 loosely surrounding the rod ll at each end of the enlarged portion 20. Surrounding the rod ll between the parts I8 and 21 is a compression spring 23, a similar compression spring 24 surrounding the rod between the parts l9 and 22. Slidably fitting in the bore l8 around the central portion of the aforesaid actuator is a sleeve or tube 25 having a central portion 28 of reduced diameter slidably fitting around the larger portion 20 of the actuator rod, the lengths of the parts 20 and 28 being approximately equal. The ends of the central portion 26 constitute abutments for the springs 23 and 24, these abutments acting on the springs through the medium of the sleeves 2| and 22 when the controller 25 is shifted relatively to the actuator |'|-i8-I9--20. Formed in the upper side of the tube 25 are transverse rack teeth 21 meshing with a pinion 28 which is actuated by a controller 30 (Fig. 1) carrying a spring-actuated plunger which cooperates with holes 8| in a stationary disk 32. To reset the controller the plunger 29 is pulled out, the controller is shifted to a new position and the plunger 29 is plugged into a new hole 3|.

The actuator head I9 is connected with the aforesaid arm H) of the inner ring of the gimbal through the following mechanism, whereby reciprocation of the actuator in the bore l6 tips the ring 2 back and forth about the axis of the trunnions 3. Depending from the head l9 through a slot 33 is an arm 34 which is pivotally connected at 35 to a link 36. The other end of the link is pivoted at 3'! to thelower end of a curved arm 38 (Fig. 8) pivotally supported at 39 to a bracket 40 on the casing l5. Slidably mounted on the shaft 8 and keyed thereto is a sleeve 4! having spaced flanges 42. Rotatably mounted on the arm 38 is a roller 43 which fits snugly into the annular space between the flanges 42. The sleeve 4| is interconnected with the arm In by a link 44 which is pivotally connected at each end by the well-known devices 45 shown in Fig. 6. The arm 44 extends through an opening in the casing I (Fig. '7) the opening comprising an arcuate slot 46 concentric with the axis of the shaft 8 to permit the rod to swing back and forth as the gimbal is tipped back and forth about the axis of the shafts 8 and 9. The lower end of the arcuate slot 46 is enlarged to permit the insertion of the pivotal connecting device 45.

The aforesaid depending arm 34 is also connected to a rod 41 which extends axially through a removable cylinder head 52, a cylinder 48, a bearing 49, an opening in a detent 50 and thence through an opening in a removable cover 5|. A piston 53 is fastened to the rod 41 within t e cylinder 48. The piston fits sufficiently loosely within the cylinder to serve merely to restrain back and forth oscillation of the actuator under the influence of the springs 23 and 24 as hereinafter described. The detent 50 is caused to grip the rod 41 by means of spring 55, thereby to lock the rod against movement in either direction. The rod is released from the detent by means of a magnet 56 which, when energized, swings the detent counterclockwise about its pivot 51 against the action of the spring 55.

The mechanism for tipping the register glass about the axis of the shafts 8 and 9 is similar to that above described, corresponding parts being indicated by corresponding numerals supple mented with prime marks (Fig. 5). However the head I! of the actuator, instead of being connected with the gimbal through a train of mechanism such as l338-4l-44, is directly connected with the shaft 9 through the medium of spiral grooves 60 in the shaft and a follower ti on the head IS, the follower having inwardly projecting teeth slidably fitting in the spiral grooves 60. Thus back and forth movement of the actuator tips the gimbal back and forth about the axis of the shaft 9.

As shown in Fig. 9 the magnets 56 and 55 for releasing the two actuators respectively are connected to a switch which, in well-known mannor, is operated by notches in the margin of the film, whereby the switch is closed momentarily whenever a notch passes the switch. Before each notch reaches the switch each of the actuators may be reset by swinging the controllers 30 and 30' to new positions according to the aforesaid charts.

Referring to Fig. 6, when the controller 30 is moved to a new position it shifts the tube 25. through the medium of the rack and pinion, to a new position. If the tube be shifted to the left it compresses the spring 23 by interengagement between the sleeve 2i and the shoulder at the junction of the large and small portions of the tube 25. However the spring 24 is unaffected for the reason that the sleeve 22 can not move with the tube 25 because it abuts the larger central portion 20 of the actuator rod and the actuator is held against movement by the detent 50. When the detent is later released by a notch in the film the actuator immediately moves to the left until the springs again become counterbalanced, the piston 53 preventing back and forth oscillation of the actuator while the springs are rebalancing and the controller 20 constituting adjustable means for variably limiting the degree of movement. If, in resetting the controller 30, the tube 25 is moved to the right the action is reversed, the spring 24 being compressed and the spring 23 being unaffected until the actuator is subsequently released from its detent 50. If either controller is not reset between notches the corresponding actuator is unaffected when the notch passes the switch '10. Thus either one actuator or both actuators or neither actuator may be reset at each notch, until control of the single switch 10.

It should be understood that the present disclosure is for the purpose of illustration only and that this invention includes all modifications and equivalents which fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. cinematographic apparatus comprising an optical element, means supporting said element for movement in each of two planes intersecting each other along the optical axis of said element, a film-controlled actuator for moving said element in each of said planes, an abutment, two springs interposed between the actuator and abutment in opposition so as to tend to produce movement of the actuator to the position wherein the springs are counterbalanced, releasable means for holding the actuator against said movement, means for adjusting the abutment to unbalance said springs in various degrees, and means for releasing said holding means to permit said counterbalancing movement, thereby to quickly make a predetermined adjustment.

2. cinematographic apparatus comprising an optical element, means supporting said element for movement in each of two planes intersecting each other along the optical axis of said element, a film-controlled actuator for moving said element in each of said planes, said actuator including spaced parts, an abutment between said parts, springs extending in opposite directions from said abutment to said parts so as to tend to produce movement of the actuator to the position wherein the springs are counterbalanced,

releasable means for holding the actuator against said movement, means for adjusting the abut; ment to unbalance said springs in various degrees, and means for releasing said holding means to permit said counterbalancing movement. thereby quickly to make a predetermined adjustment.

3. cinematographic apparatus comprising an optical element, means supporting said element for movement in each of two planes intersecting each other along the optical axis of said element, 2. film-controlled actuator for moving said element in each ofsaid planes, said actuator including a rod and spaced shoulders on the'rod, a sleeve surrounding the rod intermediate said shoulders, a spring surrounding the rod between said sleeve and each of said shoulders so as to tend to produce movement of the actuator to the position wherein the springs are counterbalanced, releasable means for holding the actuator against said movement, means for adjusting the abutment to unbalance said springs in various degrees, and means for releasing said holding means to permit said counterbalancing movement, thereby quickly to make a predetermined adjustment.

4. Cinematographic apparatus comprising an optical element, means supporting said element for movement in each of two planes intersecting each other along the optical axis of said element, a film-controlled actuator for moving said element in each of said planes, said actuator including a rod having spaced shoulders, an abutment intermediate said shoulders, a sleeve surrounding the rod on each side of said abutment, a spring surrounding the rod between the sleeve and shoulder on each side of the abutment, so as to tend to produce movement of the actuator to the position wherein the springs are counterbalanced, releasable means for holding the actuator against said movement, means for adjusting the abutment to unbalance said springs in various degrees, and means for releasing said holding means to permit said counterbalancing movement, thereby quickly to make a predetermined adjustment.

5. Apparatus for quickly making a predetermined adjustment comprising an actuator, an abutment, two springs interposed between the actuator and abutment in opposition so as to tend to produce movement 01 the actuator to the position wherein the springs are counterbalanced, releasable means for holding the actuator against said movement, means for adjusting the abutment to unbalance said springs in various degrees, and means for releasing said holding means to permit said counterbalancing movement, thereby quickly to make a predetermined adjustment.

6. Apparatus for quickly making a predetermined adjustment comprising an actuator having spaced parts, an abutment between said parts, springs extending in opposite directions from said abutment to said parts so as to tend to produce movement of the actuator to the position wherein the springs are counterbalanced, releasable means for holding the actuator against said movement, means for adjusting the abutment to unbalance said springs in various degrees, and means for releasing said holding means to permit said counterbalancing movement, thereby quickly to make a predetermined adjustment.

'7. Apparatus for quickly making a predetermined adjustment comprising an actuator including a rod and spaced shoulders on the rod, a sleeve surrounding the rod intermediate said shoulders, a spring surrounding the rod between said sleeve and each of said shoulders so as to tendto produce movement of the actuator to the position wherein the springs are counterbalanced, releasable means for holding the actuator against said movement, means for adjusting the abutment to unbalance said springs in various degrees, and means for releasing said holding means to permit said counterbalancing movement, thereby quickly to make predetermined adjustment.

8. Apparatus for quickly making a predetermined adjustment comprising an actuator including a rod having spaced shoulders, an abutment intermediate said shoulders, a sleeve surrounding the rod on each side of said abutment, a spring surrounding the rod between the sleeve and shoulder on each side of the abutment, so as to tend to produce movement of the actuator to the position wherein the springs are counterbalanced, releasable means for holding the actuator against said movement, means for adjusting the abutment to unbalance said springs in various degrees, and means for releasing said holding means to permit said counterbalancing movement, thereby quickly to make a predetermined adjustment.

LLOYED E. WHITTAKER. 

